First Nation Indigenous leaders are voicing concern after another train derailment in the northern part of the Canadian province of Ontario on Saturday (March 7). The derailment is near the community of Gogama. More than 30 rail cars carrying crude oil went off the tracks causing a fire, and contaminating the Matagami River.
Three weeks ago, there was a train derailment nearby, also involving rail cars carrying crude oil.
In the latest derailment, despite reassurances from Canadian National Railway, local Indigenous Chief Walter Naveau of the Mattagami First Nation said his community no longer feels safe after the third CN derailment in northern Ontario in less than a month.
“People in the community were feeling the affects of the toxins in the air — respiratory problems, they could feel it in their chests and their breathing,” Naveau said in a phone interview.
In a tweet on Sunday, Glenn Thibeault, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in the province of Ontario wrote: “The federal government, responsible for rail safety, must do more to protect our communities and the environment” and added helicopter photos of the derailment.
Canada’s Transport Minister Lisa Raitt says she’s made her concerns known to CN Rail.
Environmental activists say it will take a lot of time to find out the ultimate impact of the derailment.
“Everything goes somewhere … The vast majority of what has already leaked or burned will never be recovered,” said Keith Stewart of Greenpeace Canada.
More information:
CBC News – Gogama derailment shows feds need to act on train safety, MPPs say – here
CBC News – Train in Saturday’s derailment in northern Ontario was carrying Alberta crude to eastern Canada – here
Huffington Post – CN Train Derailment In Gogama, Ontario: Efforts Continue To Put Out Flames – here
National Post – CN crude oil train derailment in Gogama, Ont., ‘very concerning,’ transportation minister says – here
Toronto Star – Crude oil spilled in CN derailment will impact ecosystems for long time, activists say – here
Transportation Safety Board – Deployment notice investigation of crude oil train derailment and fire 3 km west of Gogama, Ontario – here
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